Pippa Middleton’s head-turning mini dress was a lesson in how to wear autumn 2026’s hottest colour

Like her sister, the Princess of Wales, Pippa Middleton is often ahead of her time when it comes to her fashion sense.

As we head towards autumn, the high street is swapping bikinis and summer co-ords for warmer knits and even sequin dresses. While we’re not ready to even begin thinking about the hottest fashion for the festive season, we are turning our attention to autumnal clothing. And who does it better than Pippa?

Digging through the archives, we came across a photo of the then-25-year-old looking glamorous for the 10th anniversary party of Claridge’s Bar. While her sister Kate’s romance with Prince William was public knowledge by then, interest in the couple’s private family life did not reach fever pitch until their engagement in  2010. 

Princess Kate’s sister’s flapper dress

This meant Kate’s sister’s resplendent Karen Millen flapper-style dress has largely been forgotten. The party dress featured a drop waist, V-neck, flutter sleeves and beaded embellishments, and it came in one of autumn 2026’s most popular colours – cobalt blue.

Reviving your autumnal wardrobe with the electric colourway is an easy way to keep your outfit fresh. Just look to Givenchy and Lii’s autumn collections for proof!

Pippa teamed her timeless frock with a Longines ‘La Grande Classique’ watch, a metallic clutch bag and drop earrings, layering up in the cooler November weather with black tights and matching heels.

Pippa Middleton’s signature style

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Despite her bridesmaid dress at the Prince and Princess of Wales’ 2011 wedding hit the headlines, which she later described as “embarrassing”, Pippa has remained true to her personal style choices. 

Reflecting on the look, she said on the Today Show: “I think the plan was not really for it to be a significant dress. Really just to sort of blend in with the train… I suppose it’s flattering, embarrassing, definitely. It wasn’t planned.”

The Celebrate author – who is now married to James Matthews with three children – has a wardrobe categorised by soft florals and statement pieces to elevate any look, such as a bold blazer with neutral jeans. 

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This was proven in her post-wedding look in 2011, when she stepped out of The Goring Hotel in a Zara cobalt blazer with crisp white denim. Since then, she has remained loyal to the colour, choosing a vibrant halterneck gown with a daring cut-out to the 2015 Boodles Boxing Ball.